Hi,

I wondering what taxes apply in the following situation:
- EU citizen working in the US for 3 years under a H1B visa
- receive stock options in the US, federal CA
- relocates to Singapore w/ the same company
- after 3 years in Singapore, wants to sell his stock options received while working in the US

>> What taxes should I pay ?

I guess it's not an easy one.

Thanks,
Hans.

Hans:

Not sure if you have already exercised the options and now just want to sell the stock, or you are going to exercise the options now.

If you have already exercised the option, you should have already paid taxes on the difference between the exercise price and the strike price. This income is accounted for and taxed, then reported on your W-2.

If not, then, In my opinion, the Singapore tax laws apply if you are going to exercise the options, because you will not constructive received the money until the options are exercised.

Now, if you want to SELL the stock that was constructively received while in the U.S. you will need to file a non-resident tax return in the U.S. IF the stock is sold on a U.S.-based stock exchange. Otherwise, Singapore tax law applies as well.